He raised himself on his elbow, plumped up his pillows and lay back on them. He reached out languidly for a cigarette-case and lighter on his bedside table. The ash-tray was already overloaded.

‘How can I help you?’ he said and lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply and blew out a thin vapour.

‘You can help me,’ Alleyn said, ‘by answering one or two questions about your movements since you arrived at Little Codling yesterday morning.’

Leonard raised his eyebrows and exhaled a drift of vapour. ‘And just why,’ he asked easily, ‘should I do that small thing?’

‘For reasons,’ Alleyn said, ‘that will explain themselves in due course. First of all, there’s the matter of an attempted car purchase. You gave Mr Pyke Period and Mr Cartell and Miss Cartell as references. They considered you had no authority to do so. I suggest,’ Alleyn went on, ‘that you don’t offer the usual unconvincing explanations. They really won’t do. Fortunately for the other persons involved, the deal collapsed and, apart from adding to your record, the incident has only one point of interest: it made Mr Cartell very angry.’ He stopped and looked hard at Leonard. ‘Didn’t it?’ he asked.

‘Look,’ Leonard drawled, ‘do me a favour and get the hell out of this, will you?’

‘Next,’ Alleyn went on, ‘there’s the business of Mr Period’s cigarette-case.’

It was obvious that Leonard was prepared for this. He went at once into an elaborate pantomime of turning up his eyes, wagging his head and waving his fingers.

‘No, honestly,’ he ejaculated. ‘It’s too much. Not again!’

‘Oh?’ Alleyn mildly remarked. ‘Again? Who’s been tackling you about Mr Period’s cigarette-case? Mr Cartell?’

Leonard took his time. ‘I don’t,’ he said at last, ‘like your tone. I resent it in fact.’ He looked at Alleyn through half-closed eyes and seemed to come to a decision. ‘Pardon me,’ he added, ‘if I appear abrupt. As a matter of fact, we had a latish party up at Baynesholme. Quite a show. Her ladyship certainly knows how to turn it on.’

Alleyn caught himself wondering what on earth in charity and forbearance could be said for Leonard Leiss.

‘Mr Cartell spoke to you about the cigarette-case,’ he said, taking a sizeable chance, ‘when he called here yesterday evening.’

‘Who –?’ Leonard began and pulled himself together. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘have you been talking to other people?’

‘Oh, yes, several.’

‘To him?’ Leonard demanded. ‘To Cartell?’

There was a long pause.

‘No,’ Alleyn said. ‘Not to him.’

‘Then who –? Here!’ Leonard ejaculated. ‘There’s something funny about all this. What is it?’